Information
Comments
Today, after a night's sail beneath green auroras shrouded by clouds, the ship continues its Easterly journey on a misty moderate ocean swell. Preparations for Macquarie Island resupply continue today with planning sessions, briefings and ship's crew undertaking a walk around of the helicopter hangar and cargo holds with pilots from Helicopter Resources. This afternoon, expeditioners and crew attended a presentation on Macquarie Isl by our resident shipboard rangers from Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service and Damian, our Watercraft Coordinator. Andrea has kindly provided an outline of her role on station below:
Also being dropped off at Macquarie Island as part of the wintering expeditioner team are two rangers from the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service. Andrea is the Ranger-in-Charge and Jarrod is the Wildlife Ranger. Their job for the next twelve months is to manage the Macquarie Island Nature Reserve and World Heritage Area, including undertaking extensive field work throughout the year to monitor wildlife species that rely on the island, such as albatross, elephant seals and penguins. They are looking forward to seeing the ongoing ecological recovery following the Macquarie Island Pest Eradication Project (rabbits, rats and mice) that was declared successful in 2014.
Tonight, the second round of our shipboard quiz hosted by Harley and Matt with adjudication by Dane.
To our continuing ship's tour and winding our way back from Deck 3 up two flights of the central stairwell we arrive up and out onto Deck 4. To the starboard side, the passage way leads us to a T intersection and immediately to 5 expeditioner cabins all in a row. Turning left to look forward is the entrance way to the ship's theatre.. an expansive dimly lit space able to accommodate virtually the entire ship's contingent on two platforms of tiered seating running down to a large and a smaller projector screen respectively, able to be divided for simultaneous presentations. Forward of the theatre is Deck 4 of the ship's 2x cargo holds. Doubling back from the entrance to the theatre, now facing aft looking past the aforementioned cabins is the entrance to the CTD (conductivity, temperature & depth) hangar. This is a cavernous space within which scientific instrumentation may be deployed either out through a large hydraulic door (sensibly now fastened shut) or down and out through the ship's famed moonpool (think a large square well) that enables access directly through the ship's hull to the ocean below (also now sensibly fastened shut). Further aft beyond the CTD hangar is access to the external science deck (think trawl deck). Were we, facing aft, to exit the CTD hangar and walk out onto the external science deck before making a U-turn we would find ourselves looking forward down a passage way that runs the length of the ship slightly to the port side of midships. As we walked forward down this passage way we would, on our right hand side encounter a series of laboratory spaces (both wet and dry), engine casing rooms and electronics workshops, a drop keel space (nod to V2) and the theatre. On our left, we wound pass a winch room, cargo lift and a boat embarkation room complete with lockers, sinks and drying room. Continuing forward down this passage way we would (still on our left hand side) discover a library (yes, with stairwell access to the gym), a science meeting room and office. As this Voyage is primarily resupply focussed, the well appointed science meeting room and office is being utilised for our workgroup supervisors and colleagues from the Bureau of Meteorology. Still moving forward down the passage way we pass the science operations room, with its row upon row of monitors and consoles, the sole occupant being Peter, our resident data officer. For those still with us, congratulations.. you now find yourself at a watertight door opening into the ships 2x forward holds.. and the end point to today's tour.
Additional to our ship's tour by instalments. Please find below our interview for the day c/o Sachie. On behalf of all of us aboard, we wish you a substantive and empowering International Women's Day.
1. Name: Sachie
2. Job: 'Media & Comms rep '
3. Where from: 'Hobart'
4. Where To: V5 (round tripping)
5. Claim to Fame: 'Surviving a freezer'
6. Why did you become an expeditioner?: 'The universe allowed the stars to align'
7. Favourite thing about the RSV Nuyina: 'Everything, you couldn't bring together a more interesting bunch of people if you tried. The capabilities – what the ship's going to do (science and operationally). The experience – it's given new meaning to my day-to-day job at Kingston'.
8. Favourite pastime on voyage: 'Chit chats'
9. Favourite piece of Antarctic kit: 'Anything with an AAP logo on it'
10. Voyage / Antarctic experience in one word: 'Amazeballs'
11. Favourite V5 moment: 'Wedding, icebergs, penguins, sunsets, Davis, choppers, boats, engine room, intrigues'
Regards,
James & Brendan
Map
A map showing Australia and Antarctica. The map shows the journey of one voyage that has occured in the season, with each route highlighted in a distinct colour.